Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isezandleni zikaThixo, uyiholela lapho athanda khona njengomsele wamanzi.
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
2 Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.
3 Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Amehlo okuzikhukhumeza lenhliziyo ezigqajayo, okuyikho okukhokhela ababi, konke yizono!
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.
5 Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.
6 Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
7 Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.
8 Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Umuntu omubi utshisekela ububi; kalasihawu ngomakhelwane wakhe.
The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
When the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyayinanzelela indlu yesigangi kuthi lesosigangi asibhubhise.
The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.
13 Nxa umuntu egcika indlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.
The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.
14 Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.
15 Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
16 Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Lowo othanda ukuzithokozisa uzakuba ngumyanga; laloba ngubani othanda iwayini lezibondlo ngeke anothe.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
19 Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
20 Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.
Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.
21 Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uhlasela umuzi wabalamandla adilizele phansi inqaba abayithembileyo.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
23 Lowo oqaphela umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe uyaziphephisa ezingozini.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24 Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.
25 Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.
26 Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.
All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.
27 Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
29 Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.
30 Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.
31 Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.
